An awful lot of water has flowed under the Sky Blue bridge since then including no fewer than five managers, three of them of the so-called ‘permanent’ variety.

And now the striker finds himself with two big pairs of boots to fill as he tries to round off a traumatic season on and off the pitch by spearheading a final promotion fling.

He has got to replace not just David McGoldrick but also Leon Clarke who have scored 35 league goals between them this season (although, sadly, 11 of the latter’s tally were logged in Scunthorpe colours and the pair only operated in tandem for 40 minutes).

And he hasn’t got Stephen Elliott to share those front-man responsibilities because the Irishman, like Clarke, has been ruled out by injury for the rest of the campaign.

Back from a loan spell that helped keep Gillingham on course for the League Two title, McDonald made token 89th-minute substitute appearances against Bournemouth and Swindon before lining up against Colchester for his first Coventry start since November 10 when Clarke’s double condemned City to one of their six 2-1 home defeats this term.

It was so nearly a dream return as he latched on to Gary McSheffrey’s chipped through-ball in the eighth minute only to see his stabbed shot bounce back off the foot of the post.

But after City had snatched an injury-time equaliser to avoid yet another odd-goal Ricoh reverse he insisted that Tuesday’s near-miss proves that he can supply the goals

“I thought it was in all the way,” he said; “it seemed as if everything had gone perfectly and I was all ready to celebrate when I saw it hit the post.

“I should have put it away and if I had have done I think we could have killed off the game early doors.

"But I think it was a bit unlucky and it’s important that I keep getting myself in those positions because if I do that I know I will score goals.

“I thought we were really unlucky all round because we played well but it was one of those nights when things went against us, we never quite got the run of the ball.

“You’ve got to say that it’s two points lost because we should definitely have won that game.

"It was harsh finding ourselves two down but there’s no one else to blame and in the end you’ve got to say that getting a draw from that position is a bit of a bonus.

“It makes the Hartlepool match even more crucial because we’ve got to win that now and there will be a little bit more pressure because it’s at home.

“But if we show the same level of desire that got us the draw, we’ll give ourselves a great chance.”

McDonald admits that the 4-5-1 variations that City have employed under all five of their managers this season aren’t ideal for his game and he concedes that new boss Steven Pressley’s play-to-feet philosophy can ratchet up the supporters’ frustrations.

“I prefer to play alongside a big man up front but you can’t always get what you want – you have to do what’s best for the team.

“It’s a lot of hard work but I enjoyed it because the main thing for me is that I was out there for the start of the game.

“The manager wants us to play football and we’ve proved in the last two games that we are comfortable knocking the ball around.

”The fans will get on your case a little bit if it isn’t producing goals and that’s understandable because they get anxious. But what are you going to do – keep pumping it upfield to me when I’ve got two big centre-halves on my back ready to head it away.

“We showed a lot of patience and it worked in the end when Callum Wilson got his goal.

“He took it brilliantly. He was near the half-way line when he got the ball but their centre-half backed off a little bit and Callum skinned him and stuck it into the corner.

"Fair play to him – I’m really delighted because he’s a great lad who has worked hard for his chance.

“We’re all disappointed for Leon because he has scored some very important goals for us but injuries are part of the game and you have to be ready to adjust when players are out of action.”

McDonald admits that it’s been a strange season for the Sky Blues: “Five different managers – that’s a bit mad.

"But the gaffer has been brilliant since he’s come in and the lads have really taken to him.

“Whether it’s training or a match, he want’s us to play football, bring the ball down and express ourselves, and if we keep doing that I am sure that things will come right for us in the end.”